Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN!
Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2016.

* Name: Alexander Sovereen[1-8]* Sex: Male* Father: Frederick Sovereign (1786-1875)* Mother: Mary Jane Hutchison (1792-1868)2) INDIVIDUAL FACTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):* Birth: 22 December 1814, Middleton, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[1–2]* Census: 1 April 1851 (age 36), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[3]* Census: 1 April 1861 (age 46), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[4]* Census: 1 April 1871 (age 56), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[5]* Census: 1 April 1881 (age 66), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[6]* Census: 1 April 1891 (age 76), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[7]* Census: 1 April 1901 (age 86), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[2]* Death: 15 August 1907 (age 92), Windham, Norfolk, Ontario, Canada[8]3) SHARED FACTS (with source citations as indicated in brackets):* Spouse 1: Elizabeth Putman (1820-1895)* Marriage 1: 3 March 1840 (age 25), Norfolk, Ontario, Canada* Child 1: Mary Jane Sovereen (1840-1874)* Child 2: Frederick Sovereen (1842-1846)* Child 3: Rosella Elizabeth Sovereen (1844-1845)* Child 4: Amart Ann Sovereen (1846-1849)* Child 5: Rachel E. Sovereen (1848- )* Child 6: Gertrude Ann Sovereen (1851-1938)* Child 7: Sarah Adelaide Sovereen (1853-1915)* Child 8: Nancy Amelia Sovereen (1855-1927)* Child 9: Roselia Sovereen (1856-1856)* Child 10: Valzoria Sovereen (1856-1877)* Child 11: Hattie Sovereen (1859-1919)* Child 12: Frederick Alexander Sovereen (1861- )* Child 13: Addison B. Sovereen (1863-1942)* Child 14: Wilbert Melvin Sovereen (1867- )4) NOTES (with source citations as indicated in brackets):Nearly everything known about the life of Alexander Sovereen was obtained from a newspaper article "Alexander Sovereen, son of the founder of the old village of Fredericksburg" which was published in or near Delhi, Norfolk County, Ontario, probably in the year 1902.[1] It was obtained from Mark Putnam who has done extensive research on the Putman family. The text below is excerpted from the newspaper article."It is not often one finds a man engaged in cradling grain or mowing grass by hand, clad in a heavy coat and woolen mittens, but when one finds a man so engaged who has reached his 87th year, it is indeed a rare spectacle. In fact it has come to pass that a twentieth century man who can swing a grain cradle without demoralizing one half of the grain and wrecking his own physical frame beyond the possibility of repair, is looked upon as having outlived his day and generation. In these degenerate day any man who can pull off and trample down a sufficient quantity of grain to enable an observer with ordinary eyesight to distinguish where he has cradled and where he has not cradled, will pass muster as a cradler; but shades of the departed! If our grandsires could behold their tangled, zig-zag swathes with heads pointing in every direction known and unknown, they would return to their shady abodes with a firm and steadfast determination never again to visit the scenes of their earthly experiences."The man in his 87th year, who was found cradling in a field of green rye, clad in heavy coat and woolen mittens, is Alexander Sovereen, second and only surviving son of Frederick Sovereen, the founder of the old village which flourished and passed into general decay years before the modern, up-to-date village of Delhi sprang into existence. And this man who has only three more milestones to pass before he reaches ninety, swung the cradle as our grandsires swung the old 'turkey wing', in long bygone days. He has always enjoyed the reputation of being an expert cradler, having on one occasion cradled as many as six acres in one day. Mr. Sovereen evidently inherited his full share of that rare constitutional vigor which seems to be the common birthright of the members of the old Sovereen family. The subject of this sketch has done enough hard work during his life to break down a half-dozen ordinary men. His days, which have been many, have also been long ones. His restless ambition has led him into many fields of labor, varying in kind, but never, in any case, freed from the grind of toil. He seems always to have found recreation in hard work, and no task was deemed too laborious or too hazardous for him to undertake. Whether engaged as employer or employee, made no difference; he was always found in the vanguard. He has not won as many favors from the fickle Goddess of Fortune as some far less deserving men have, yet the old-time twinkle of the eye and the old familiar smile which illuminates the time-withered features as it did when the face was younger, indicates that the heart is as warm, the conscience as self-approving and trust in the unknown future as implicit, as in the days gone by. His family hearth, like that of his father, was always noted for its open-hearted hospitality and good fellowship. No human being was ever turned away from his door hungry or cold. Had he been less charitable as a citizen, less helpful as a neighbor, and less generous and confiding in his household, he would have made it possible, no doubt, for a more luxurious environment in his old age, but when the final summons calls him to his fathers, he will be remembered by all who know him, not only for the good he did do, but for the greater good his noble generosity would have prompted had circumstances been favorable."Mr. Sovereen was born in old Charlotteville December 22nd, 1814 and was three years past common school age when the family moved into the second log cabin erected where Delhi now stands. This seems a long time ago to the active generation of Delhi, and yet this inmate of the second cabin who, by the way, was born while Turkey Point was yet judicial headquarters for all London District, is still able to cradle green rye."Mr. Sovereen has some distinct recollections of his childhood experiences in old Charlotteville. He is a grandson of the 'Jake Sovereen' who kept the historical pioneer tavern. He remembers his grandsire well, and was frequently at his place, his father having settled on a lot a little west of the old homestead. He has occasion to remember one thing which happened during this early period which he would like to forget if he could. He was about six years old at the time, and his brother, the late William L., was about three years his senior. One day during the absence of the master and mistress of the cabin, the youngsters on mischief bent, as youngsters in all climes and ages are, conceived the idea of throwing stones in the rapacious mouth of the big brick and mud chimney. Sally Loder, who subsequently married Jerry Anderson, lived with the family, and was engaged in cooking dinner, when the stones began to rattle down the chimney. Some struck the crane and bounded off on the hearth, while others 'plunked' into the boiling pots which hung on the pot-hooks, accompanied by liberal allowance of soot. Sally was not long in determining the source of the trouble and rushed out to remove it. William, the elder escaped by slipping through a hole in the log fence, but little Aleck was caught and the enraged Sally gave him what he terms the 'tarnalest lambastin' he ever received in his life. In those pioneer times John McCall was a noted hunter and trapper. He was a frequent visitor at the Sovereen tavern and was wont to boast of his prowess and bravery while pursuing his perilous adventures in the forest. One night he remained late at the tavern and after much boasting he shouldered his rifle and went out expressing the wish that he might meet the devil himself before he reached home. The father of this sketch could imitate a wolf's howl to perfection, and being at the tavern that night, he resolved to test McCall's bravery. Starting in advance he posted himself in McCall's trail, and as he approached he let loose a vigorous howl. McCall halted, and after snarling a defiant 'yah-a-a' he advanced. This was repeated a second time; but when 'Uncle' Frederick loosened up on his third howl, McCall turned his back on the imitation foe and beat a hasty and inglorious retreat. He remained at the tavern until break of day, swearing that he had been attacked by a whole pack of wolves, and that it was one of the greatest 'hairbreadth' escapes of his life. It was, no doubt, as real as many of the 'hair-breadth' escapes of pioneer times which has been handed down to us."For four or more years after the Middleton settlement was effected, there was no school within reach of the family, and when a school was finally opened in a log cabin a squatter had built on a sand knoll near May's Corners, on Talbot road, the services of our subject had become too valuable in the work of home-building to spend much time in school. He was permitted, however, to attend a short turn on an average of two to three days in the week. Subsequently, this school was located farther west in a log cabin which stood nearly opposite the place where Mike the fortune teller lived for many years. A man named Sandy Ford taught each of these schools. In due time a nucleus of what developed into Fredericksburgh was formed, and a school was opened in the pioneer log cabin of Joseph Lawson which stood on the brow of the hill overlooking the Conlin tannery. This may properly be termed the pioneer school of Delhi. It was also used by the settlers as the pioneer 'meeting house'."No one ever regretted more keenly the lack of an elementary education than has the subject of our sketch. His brother William lived for a time with his grandfather Hutchinson and while there acquired a crude elementary education, which was always esteemed by his less fortunate brother, a very great advantage in making the most of life's opportunities."Mr. Sovereen married Eliza Putman, and settled near the village where he cleared up a farm and raised a large family, mostly girls. One of these girls is the wife of Mr. John Cole, the present owner and occupant of the fine old Frederick Sovereen homestead, others are married and in homes of their own, and some are dead. Addison, the only living son, is located in Manitoba."The only record of the birth of aAlexander Sovereen is the 1891 Census of Canada, which listed his birth date as 22 December 1814, age 86.[2]Alexander and Eliza (Putman) Sovereen married on 3 March 1840 in Norfolk County, Ontario. The marriage date and place for the wedding of Alexander Sovereen and Eliza Putman was obtained from email correspondence with a now-unknown correspondent in the mid-1990s. The email and the printed information has been lost. Attempts to find a record have been unsuccessful. They had 14 children between 1840 and 1867, but at least four of the children, and possibly 6, died soon after birth. Another, Valzoria, died as an unmarried young woman.In the 1851 census for Norfolk County, Ontario, the Alexander Sovereen family resided in Windham township.[3] The household included:* Alexander Sovereen - age 40, a farmer, born in Upper Canada (U.C.), a Baptist* Elizabeth Sovereen - age 30, female, born in Upper Canada, a Baptist* Mary J. Sovereen - age 12, female, born in Upper Canada, a Baptist* Rachel E. Sovereen - age 6, female, born in Upper Canada, a BaptistThe Alexander Sovereen household was enumerated in the 1861 Census of Canada in Windham township, Norfolk County, Ontario.[4] The household included:* line 33 - Alexander Sovereen - an Innkeeper, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 47, male, married * 34 - Eliza Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 43, female, married* 35 - Mary J. Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 21, female, single* 36 - Rachael Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 12, female, single, attended school within the year* 37 - Gertrude Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 10, female, single, attended school within the year* 38 - Sarah Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 8, female, single, attended school within the year* 39 Nancy Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 6, female, single, attended school within the year* 40 - Rozina Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 4, female, single* 41 - Haty Sovereen - no occupation, born Upper Canada, Baptist religion, resides in Windham, age 3, female, singleIn the 1871 Census of Canada for Norfolk County, Ontario, the family is found in Windham township, North Norfolk District.[5] The household included:* Alexander Sovereen - age 56, a farmer, of German descent, born in Ontario, a Baptist* Eliza Sovereen - age 59, born in the U.S* Sarah Sovereen - age 18, born in Ontario* Nancy Sovereen - age 16, born in Ontario* Valarie Sovereen - age 14, born in Ontario * Hattie Sovereen - age 12, born in Ontario* Alexander Sovereen - age 8, born in Ontario* Wilbur Sovereen - age 3, born in Ontario* Peter Putman - age 58, born in the U.S., a laborer of German descent (surely Eliza (Putman) Sovereen's brother).In the 1881 Census of Canada Records for Norfolk County North, Ontario, this family resided in Windham township:[6]* Alexander Sovereen - male, age 67, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German, occupation Farmer, married.* Elizabeth Sovereen - female, age 60, born in U.S., religion Baptist, origin German, married* Hetti Sovereen - female, age 22, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German* Adison B. Sovereen - male, age 17, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German, occupation Farmer* Melvina M. Kemp - female, age 15, born in O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin German* Wilbert Sovereen - male, age 13, born O[ntario], religion Baptist, origin GermanIn the 1891 Census of Canada, Norfolk North District, Ontario, this family resided in Windham township:[2]* Alexander Sovereen - male, age 76, married, born Ontario, father born United States, mother born Nova Scotia, Baptist religion, occupation farmer, 1 employee, can read and write* Elisabeth Sovereen - female, age 72, married, wife, born in United States, father born United States, mother born United States, Baptist religion, can read and write* Wilber Sovereen - male, age 23, married, son, born in Ontario, father born in Ontario, mother born Ontario, Baptist religion, can read and write* Fannie Sovereen - female, age 20, married, L (in-law?), born in Ontario, father born Ontario, mother born Ontario, C.E. religion, can read and writeIn the 1901 Census of Canada, Norfolk North District, Ontario, this family resided in Windham:[7]* Sovereen Alexander - Male, Head of household, White, born Dec 22 1814, age 86* Jay Levi S. - Male, Lodger, Married, born Jul 22 1872, age 28* Jay Margaret L. - Female, Lodger, Married, born Jul 29 1875, age 25* Jay Russell R. - Male, Boarder, Single, born Mar 26 1895, age 6* Jay Edward L. - Male, Boarder, Single, born Apr 5 1898, age 2The death record for Alexander Sovereen includes this information:[8]* Name of deceased: Sovereen Alexander* Sex: Male* Date of Death: 15th August 1907* Age: 93* Residence, Street number, or Concession and Lot: Lot 21 Con 11* Occupation: Farmer* Single or Married: Married* Where Born: Middleton* Cause of Death: Old Age* Length of illness: Four days* Name of Physician in Attendance: None* Religious Denomination: Baptist* Name of Person Making Return: Corman, W.W.* Date of Registration: 16th August 19075) SOURCES 1. "Alexander Sovereen, son of the founder of the old village of Fredericksburg," undated clipping, about 1902, from unidentified newspaper; Mark Putnam collection, provided to Mark Putnam by family members; privately held by 4th cousin, Mark Putnam, [address for private use], Tuscola County, Michigan.2. Census of Canada, 1901, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule No. 1 (population), District 93, North Norfolk, Division No. G, Subdivision 6 of Windham, Page 3, Family #31, Alexander Sovereen household; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1901/Pages/1901.aspx : accessed 31 July 2014).3. Census of 1851, Norfolk County, Canada West, District 25, Windham, subdistrict 237, page 35 (stamped), lines 32-35, Alexander Sovereen household ; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1851/index-e.html : accessed 10 March 2013); citing Library and Archives Canada Microfilm C-11741.4. Census of Canada, 1861, Canada West, Norfolk District, Middleton sub-district, Page 49, Lines 33-41, Alexander Sovereen household ; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1861/index-e.html : accessed 23 August 2013); citing Library and Archives Canada Microfilm C-1052.5. Census of Canada, 1871, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule #1, district 12, North Norfolk, subdistrict b, Township of Windham, Page 49, Dwelling 174, Family #178, Alexander Sovereen household ; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1871/index-e.html : accessed 10 March 2013); citing Library and Archives Canada Microfilm C-9909.6. Census of Canada, 1881, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule #1, District 158, Norfolk North, subdistrict C, Township of Windham, page 46, Dwelling #204, Family #225, Alexander Sovereen household ; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1881/index-e.html: accessed 5 March 2013); citing Library and Archives of Canada Microfilm C-13263.7. Census of Canada, 1891, Norfolk County, Ontario, Schedule No. 1, District 96, North Norfolk, Subdistrict Township of Windham, Division No. 4, Page 9, Family #44, Alexander Sovereen household; digital image, Library and Archives Canada (http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/index-e.html: accessed 10 March 2013).8. "Ontario Deaths, 1869-1937 and Overseas Deaths, 1939-1947," online database, FamilySearch (http:// www.familysearch.org), Alexander Sovereen entry.

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I am a native San Diegan, a graduate of San Diego State University, a retired aerospace engineer, a genealogist and a family guy.
My wife (Angel Linda) and I have two lovely daughters, and four darling grandchildren. We love to visit them and have them visit us.
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